Timbers announce 2012 MLS schedule

PORTLAND, Ore. – Major League Soccer (MLS) today unveiled the full 34-game, 2012 regular-season schedule for the Portland Timbers. The Timbers kick off their second MLS season with one of 12 nationally televised matches during the upcoming campaign on Monday, March 12, as they play host to the Philadelphia Union at JELD-WEN Field on ESPN2 at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific).

Under the new competition format for MLS, the Timbers will play a conference-based schedule in 2012, taking on each of their eight Western Conference opponents three times and each Eastern Conference club once during the regular season.

Highlighting the club’s matches broadcast on national TV, the Timbers play host to Cascadia-rival Seattle Sounders FC on NBC on Saturday, Sept. 15, at JELD-WEN Field at 12:30 p.m. (Pacific). Additionally, the Timbers play three matches on ESPN/ESPN2, six on the new NBC Sports Network and two on Galavisión (Spanish). Eight of the Timbers’ 12 national TV games will originate from JELD-WEN Field.

Between national broadcasts and the Timbers’ local television partners, all 34 regular-season matches will be broadcast on live TV in 2012. ROOT SPORTS™ will air 14 games throughout the season, while KPTV (FOX 12) and its sister station KPDX (PDX TV) will show a total of 10 matches, which will also air in Spanish on Estrella TV. Every regular-season match will once again feature a live radio broadcast on Sportsradio 750 AM The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM.

In conference play, the Timbers will play host to Chivas USA, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC twice at JELD-WEN Field and visit each of those four clubs once. Conversely, the Timbers travel to face the Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake twice during the season, with each of those four opponents then making one appearance in the Rose City in 2012.

The Timbers’ season series against the defending-MLS champion Galaxy includes a nationally televised match on Saturday, July 14, at JELD-WEN Field on the NBC Sports Network; kickoff is set for 8 p.m. (Pacific).

After facing Philadelphia in the season opener, the Timbers play host to four other Eastern Conference clubs, including conference finalist Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, April 21, and D.C. United, with 2011 MLS MVP and Golden Boot winner Dwayne De Rosario, on Saturday, Sept. 29.

Portland plays three of its five away fixtures against Eastern Conference foes in the opening 10 games of the season, traveling to take on the New England Revolution (March 24), expansion side Montreal Impact (April 28) and MLS Cup 2011 finalist Houston Dynamo (May 15) in that span.

The Timbers’ home schedule features a total of four matches against Cascadia Cup rivals Seattle and Vancouver. Portland plays host to Seattle on Sunday, June 24, on ESPN and Sept. 15, on NBC at JELD-WEN Field. Vancouver visits the Rose City on Saturday, May 26, and Saturday, Aug. 25. The Timbers will visit Seattle and Vancouver in their last two road matches of the regular season.

The Timbers play home matches on five different days of the week this season, including 15 weekend contests. In addition to playing 11 Saturday home matches, the Timbers play host to three Sunday games and one Friday fixture.

Following away tilts against Seattle and Vancouver on Oct. 7 and Oct. 20, respectively, the Timbers close out the 2012 regular season by playing host to San Jose, led by one of the league’s top scorers the past two seasons in Chris Wondolowski, on Saturday, Oct. 27, at JELD-WEN Field on the NBC Sports Network.

The 2012 MLS regular season ends Oct. 28 and will be followed by the MLS Cup Playoffs, culminating with MLS Cup 2012, hosted by one of the two finalists. From First Kick to MLS Cup, the calendar footprint of the 2012 season is 267 days – the longest in league history (as is the regular season, at 232 days).

Home Dates by Month:
March (2), April (2), May (3), June (1), July (3), August (3), September (2), October (1)Road Dates by Month:
March (2), April (2), May (1), June (2), July (3), August (2), September (3), October (2)